Scribing tool for wall linoleum and similar coverings



Sept. 15, 1942. H. D. DRAIN 2,296,232 4 SCRIBING TOOL FOR WALL LINOLEUMAND SIMILAR COVERINGS Filed Jan. 4, 1940 INVENTQR. Heme/"5H fl/cumATTORNEY5 Patented Sept. 15, 1942 SCRIBING TOOL FOR WALL LINOLEUM ANDSIDIEAR COVERINGS Herbert D. Drain, Chicago, Ill., assignor of oner halfto Roy F. Hull, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 4, 1940, Serial No. 312,331

3 Claims.

In applying linoleum and similar coverings to the surfaces of walls itis important that the edges of the material which are located in cornersand about window casings and other cabinet work be cut with the utmostaccuracy, as any irregularities or gaps along such edges will spoil theappearance of the work.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, easily manipulatedtool which will accurately mark the material, so that when the materialis thereafter out along the marked line the cut edge will fit snugly andevenly into the corner for which cut. The improved tool is light, strongand inexpensive, requires no special skill in its use, and can bereadily adjusted to compensate for corners having different angles.

While the foregoing Statements are indicative in a general way of thenature of the invention, other more specific objects and advantages willbe apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of theconstruction and manner of use of the improved tool.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is presented herein for thepurpose of exemplification, but it will of course be appreciated thatthe invention is capable of being embodied in other structurallymodified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tool, showing the way in which it isused in marking the upper edge of a sheet of linoleum applied to a wall,so that when the linoleum is subsequently out along the marked line thecut edge will fit snugly into the corner present between the wall andthe ceiling;

Fig. 2 is a view of one side of the tool;

Fig. 3 is a view of the other side of the tool;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the tool;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view; and

Fig. 6 is a front edge view.

As will be observed in the drawing, the tool is characterized by a smallthin flat sided frame H], which is preferably about the size of the palmof ones hand. The bottom edge I l of the frame 4 is straight; the frontedge 12 extends upwardly and rearwardly at an acute angle to the bottomedge; the rear edge I3 extends straight up; and the top edge l4 extendsrearwardly and downwardly at a slight inclination from the upper end ofthe front edge to the upper end of the rear edge. The top edge ll of theframe is shaped to provide a hand grip [5. The other edges of the frame,and particularly the bottom enable the tool to mark the materialaccurately even though the tool be tilted slightly with respect to thesurface of the material.

The lower front corner l6 of the frame is curved on an are, about acenter [1, and a disk l8 of the same size and curvature as the noselikecorner [6 is set into a recess I9 formed in one side of the corner I6,in a position flush with such corner. The disk I8 is mounted at itscenter on an adjusting screw 20, which screw when loosened permits thedisk to be rotated through a small angle. The disk l8 contains a socket2| in which a small marking pin 22 is secured by a set screw 23. The pin22 projects from the curved corner l6 of the frame above the plane ofthe bottom edge II, the distance above such plane being determined byadjustment of the disk l8, as indicated on a scale 24 provided on themeeting edges of the frame and disk.

The rim of the disk I8 is preferably provided with a small horizontallyextending groove 25 at the point of entry of the pin 22, which groovetends to prevent the pin from becoming clogged with fine pieces of thematerial being marked. The bottom edge H of the frame is provided withanti-friction rollers 26. These rollers project slightly below thebottom edge ll into engagement with the surface of the material beingmarked.

The tool may be used in the following manner: In applying a piece oflinoleum 21 to a side wall 28, and in preparing to cut the upper edge ofthe linoleum to fit accurately into the corner between the wall 28 andceiling 29, the

'tool is slid horizontally along the upper portion of the linoleum inthe corner after all but the upper edge of the linoleum has beencemented in place. The curved nose [6 of the tool is pressed tightlyagainst the outwardly turned margin 30 of the linoleum and at the sametime the tool is moved horizontally. As this movement takes place thepin 22 cuts a fine groove 31 in the linoleum. As soon as the linoleumhas been 5 marked in this manner for the full length of the corner thetool is removed and the linoleum is out along the marked line 3|. Theresulting edge, when pressed back into the corner will accurately fitthe same, without any irregularities or gaps. The pin 22 is preferablyset, in all positions of the latter, at an angle to the radius of thenose l6 at the location of the pin, with the result that the groove 3|will extend at an angle into the surface of the linoleum, therebyproducand front edges II and 12, are rounded off to ing a reversebeveling or undercutting of the edge, which further aids in theproduction of a tight and practically invisible joint.

In marking material for a corner in which the two meeting surfaces donot come together at a right angle, the position of the disk I8 ischanged to compensate for the particular angle encountered, the pin 22being moved further away from the bottom edge H when the angle is foundto be less than a right angle and being moved closer to the bottom edgewhen the angle is found to be more than a right angle, the properposition of the disk I 8 for any particular angle being indicated on thescale 24.

I claim:

1. A scribing tool for wall linoleum and similar coverings,characterized by a substantially rigid frame having bottom and frontedges arranged at an acute angle to each other, a hand grip above thebottom edge, a curved nose at the junction of said edges for engagementwith the material to be marked, and a stationary marking pin projectingfrom the nose with its tip above the plane of the bottom edge.

2. A scribing tool for wall linoleum and similar coverings,characterized by a substantially rigid frame having bottom and frontedges arranged at an acute angle to each other, a hand grip above thebottom edge, a curved nose at the junction of said edges for engagementwith the material to be marked, and a stationary marking pin projectingfrom the nose with its tip above the plane of the bottom edge, said pinbeing disposed at an angle to the radius of the nose at the location ofthe pin.

3. A scribing tool for wall linoleum and similar coverings,characterized by a substantially rigid frame having transversely roundedbottom and front edges arranged at an acute angle to each other, a handgrip above the bottom edge, a curved nose at the junction of said edgesfor engagement with the material to be marked, and a stationary markingpin projecting from the nose with its tip above the plane of the bottomedge, said pin being adjustable in an arc about the center of curvatureof the nose for use in marking material to fit into corners havingdifferent angles.

HERBERT D. DRAIN.

